CHAPPAQUA, N.Y. – Chappaqua’s Horace Greeley High School’s Homecoming weekend got off to a rain-soaked but jubilant start Friday evening with a pep rally, followed by a parade of Greeley teams, accompanied by music, and finishing with a huge fireworks display.

“The superintendent of schools called me when it was pouring on Friday to ask if we were going to cancel,” said Booster Club President Jim Nottingham. “I said, ‘We don’t stop because of a little rain.' ”

Indeed, although two of the earlier games had to be cancelled because of the weather, the rain petered out before the evening’s events.

“We do this for the kids,” Nottingham said. “This is only the second time we've had a pep rally, but I felt we needed it for school spirit. When their peers and families watch the athletes, it validates what they’re doing. And everybody has a good time.

“We need the Triple A at Greeley – academics, athletics and arts. They all go together.”

Tenth-grader Thea Schwartz, just returning from a girls’ JV volleyball game against Ossining, said, “We lost in the third set by two. It was so close. Homecoming is a great time for the entire school to come together.”

Her friend, Samantha Russo added, “It’s exciting to watch the competitions and besides, it’s the first dance of the year.”

Football team quarterback, Brett Mester, an 11th-grader, said, “Homecoming is good for team morale, it’s good for the town, and it’s good for the school to celebrate their teams.” It creates wonderful memories, he continued. “For the seniors, it may be their last game here.”

Saturday’s agenda proceeded as scheduled, with varsity sectional cross-country at 10 a.m. and the varsity football game against Tappan Zee High School, beginning at 1:30. The girls’ varsity soccer game against John Jay High School also started at 1:30 p.m.